Published: Friday, July 25, 2014 at 12:56 PM.

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SHELBY - Despite a $500 cash reward, authorities continue to seek leads in a rash of recent armed robberies at convenience stores throughout the county.

And the number of robberies continues to rise.

The one thing all the gunmen have in common?

"They don't wear shoes," said Cleveland County Sheriff's Lt. Richard Acuff. "That's the constant. We're thinking it's the same group of guys."

Several masked gunmen have held store clerks at gunpoint in recent weeks. The most recent came Thursday night at a store across from Burns High School. Others, reported as far back as June 29, have ranged from spots on West Dixon Boulevard to Earl Road and Fallston Road.

Acuff said investigators are scanning social media in hopes the suspects will reveal themselves.

"They're bad about posting stuff," he said. "We've been doing searches, hoping to come up with something."

No injuries have been reported in any of the robberies.

"Thank God," Acuff said. "No injuries or anything."

Acuff said the county alone, not counting the city limits of Shelby or Kings Mountain, is home to more than 20 convenience stores.

"Between us, Kings Mountain and Shelby, there have been at least 10 (robberies)," he said Friday.

CrimeStoppers has offered a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest. But, Acuff said, the reward hasn't yet resulted in substantial information.

Prior to Thursday night's robbery, another was reported early that morning at 1:34 a.m. at the One Stop Food Store located at 3971 W. Dixon Blvd.

On Wednesday, at 2:04 a.m., Shelby Police responded to the One Stop Food Store at 900 Fallston Road after a gunman walked out with an undisclosed amount of money taken from the store clerk.

The suspect was described as a light skin black man, approximately 5’9” to 5’11” tall, wearing a white shirt over his head and a black mask or T-shirt over his face. He was also wearing a red long sleeve shirt and tan camouflage pants. The suspect was last seen running east on Wyke Road and getting into a car that left also traveling east on Wyke Road.

Between June 29 and July 6, others have been reported at the Kangaroo Express located at 3600 W. Dixon Blvd., Fast Stop Market located at 1020 E. Dixon Blvd., and Mike’s Food Store located at 805 Earl Road.

If you recognize the suspect(s) in the photos or have any information pertaining to any of these crimes, call CrimeStoppers at 704-481-TIPS (8477). Anyone with information can call and remain anonymous.

News Editor Graham Cawthon can be reached at 704-669-3334, gcawthon@shelbystar.com or on Twitter at @GrahamCawthon

Yesterday, we shared surveillance stills from recent unsolved armed robbery cases in the city and county. Sounds like more occurred just last night, and authorities say it could be the same suspect. We have calls out to law enforcement now and will update later this afternoon with what they have to say.

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SHELBY - Despite a $500 cash reward, authorities continue to seek leads in a rash of recent armed robberies at convenience stores throughout the county.

And the number of robberies continues to rise.

The one thing all the gunmen have in common?

"They don't wear shoes," said Cleveland County Sheriff's Lt. Richard Acuff. "That's the constant. We're thinking it's the same group of guys."

Several masked gunmen have held store clerks at gunpoint in recent weeks. The most recent came Thursday night at a store across from Burns High School. Others, reported as far back as June 29, have ranged from spots on West Dixon Boulevard to Earl Road and Fallston Road.

Acuff said investigators are scanning social media in hopes the suspects will reveal themselves.

"They're bad about posting stuff," he said. "We've been doing searches, hoping to come up with something."

No injuries have been reported in any of the robberies.

"Thank God," Acuff said. "No injuries or anything."

Acuff said the county alone, not counting the city limits of Shelby or Kings Mountain, is home to more than 20 convenience stores.

"Between us, Kings Mountain and Shelby, there have been at least 10 (robberies)," he said Friday.

CrimeStoppers has offered a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest. But, Acuff said, the reward hasn't yet resulted in substantial information.

Prior to Thursday night's robbery, another was reported early that morning at 1:34 a.m. at the One Stop Food Store located at 3971 W. Dixon Blvd.

On Wednesday, at 2:04 a.m., Shelby Police responded to the One Stop Food Store at 900 Fallston Road after a gunman walked out with an undisclosed amount of money taken from the store clerk.

The suspect was described as a light skin black man, approximately 5’9” to 5’11” tall, wearing a white shirt over his head and a black mask or T-shirt over his face. He was also wearing a red long sleeve shirt and tan camouflage pants. The suspect was last seen running east on Wyke Road and getting into a car that left also traveling east on Wyke Road.

Between June 29 and July 6, others have been reported at the Kangaroo Express located at 3600 W. Dixon Blvd., Fast Stop Market located at 1020 E. Dixon Blvd., and Mike’s Food Store located at 805 Earl Road.

If you recognize the suspect(s) in the photos or have any information pertaining to any of these crimes, call CrimeStoppers at 704-481-TIPS (8477). Anyone with information can call and remain anonymous.

News Editor Graham Cawthon can be reached at 704-669-3334, gcawthon@shelbystar.com or on Twitter at @GrahamCawthon

Yesterday, we shared surveillance stills from recent unsolved armed robbery cases in the city and county. Sounds like more occurred just last night, and authorities say it could be the same suspect. We have calls out to law enforcement now and will update later this afternoon with what they have to say.